Yes, I agree with you on that one, Ryan.
It is nice to be able to get rolling again without help from others.  I
feels good to be able to deal with most any situation yourself.
Be prepared; like a Boy Scout!

Mike B.

-----Original Message-----
From: Ryan Shawley
Sent: Thursday, August 25, 2011 9:34 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Don't Leave Home Without Them: Hoses/Clamps

I kinda straddle the line with what I bring for spares on a trip.  If I know
something could stand to be changed I"ll do it beforehand if it is just a
hose of something.  Don't get me wrong I'm not up the night before doing, I
mean a few days before, give me enough time to shake out any issues.  I'll
drive the van to work which is a short distance with some nice coolant
system testing hills but close enough to not really inconvenience my wife if
I need a lifeline.

For me it would be irresponsible to head out with my wife kid and dog on a
trip and have to make an unplanned stop to fix that hose/line/whatever that
I was gonna get to.  They're cool, the roll with the punches, but it isn't
right in my situation to add that risk to the adventure.  That said, kucky
happens as I found out this summer dealing with electrical ground issues
while sitting in traffic rolling into a festival.  Rad fan switch lost
ground and wouldn't kick fan on, pa pow.  You have like 0.8 seconds from
when that gauge starts climbing to boil-over it seems, just can't get pulled
off to the side quick enough!

My wife knew the drill, hopped out started clearing gear from the top of
engine compartment while I took the grill off.  I had tools to fix the
underlying issue (again a shout out to our electrical Jedi Dave B.),
pre-mixed antifreeze and a jug of distilled just in case to top her off, and
some cold brews to kill time until things cooled off.  This same trip I had
a meltdown of the headlight switch and heater fan switch.  As fate would
have it I USED to roll with a spare headlight switch but somehow it got
exiled to the garage.  I do carry some heavy wire, electrical connectors,
and a crimper.  Made a little jumper for use when driving at night until we
got back home.  Mr. Bentley told me where to plug my little jumper in at.

Once in Georgia I smelled the sweet gas smell after driving the van a minute
or two when cold, yep the firestarter hit again.  Had some line and clamps,
30 minutes later all is good.  Now the fuel lines were on my list but I felt
good as they were the BMW lines indicating they had been replaced, no
evidence of leakage, but still on my list.

So my point of rambling?  I don't know but it sure feels nice to roll out of
problem under your own steam without having to call someone to bail you out.

Ryan                                      =